Nevada County picayune., 1887-12-21


 moderately profitable returns. As the volume and diversity of our national activities increase, new recruits are added to those who
 desire d continuation of the ad- vantages which they conceive the present system of taxation direct ly affords them. So stubbornly
 have all efforts to reform the pres ent condition been resisted by
 those of our fellow citizens thus engaged that they can hardly com
 plain of the suspicion, entertained to a certain extent, that there eX
 ists an organized combination all along the line to maintain their ad-
 vantage. We are in the midst of centennial celebrations, aud with
 becoming pride we rejoice in
 American skill and ingenuity,
 American energy and enterprise, and in the wonderful natural ad- vantages and resources developed by century's national growth.- Yet when an attempt Is made to justify a scheme which permits n tax to be laid upon every consun- er in the land for the benefit of our manufacturers quite beyond reaS onable demand for governmental regard, it suits the purposes of ad vOcacy to call our manufactures infant industries still needing the highest and greatest degree of la vOr and fostering care that can be wrung from federal legislation; it is also said that the increase in the price of domestic manufactures resulting from the present tariff is necessary in order that higher Wa ges may be paid to our working men, employed ill manufactures than are paid for what is called the pauper labor of Europe. All will acknowledge the force of govern ment which involves the welfare and liberal compensation of our la boIer is honorable in the eyes of every American citizen; and as It lies at the foundation of our devel- Opment and progress It is entitled without affect ation or hypocrisy,iO tine utmost regard. The standard of our labOrers' life should not be measured by that of any other country less favored, and they are entitled 10 their full share of all our advantage.
 By the last census 1t is made to appear that of the 7,592,O99 of our population engaged in all kinds of industries, 7,61O,495 are employed in agriculture. 4,074, 4,23S m profes- sional and personal service. C, ,934,- S76 of whom are domestic servants and laborers.) While l,SlO. .256 are employed in trade and transporta- ton, ], 3,S37,ll2 are classed as em. ployed in manufacturing and min ing. For present purposes, how ever, the last number given should be considerably reduced. Without attempting to enumerate all, it will be conceded that there should be deducted from those which it includes 3j7 ,143 carpenters and joiners. 2S5. .4Ol milliners and dress makers, 172, ,726 blacksmiths, l33. 756 tailors and addresses. lO2,473 masons, 7G,24l butchers, Il 1909 ba- kers, 22,OS3 plasterers, and 4,S9I engaged in manufacturing agricul- tural implements, amounting to 1,2l4,023, leaving 2,G23,OS9 per sons employ ed Tn such manufaciu- ring induStr,eS as claimed to be benefited ny 4 nigh tariff.
 To these the appeal is made to save their employment and main tain their wages by resisting a change. There should be no dis position to answer such sugges- tions, by the allegation that they are in minority among those who labor, and therefore should fOrego an advantage in the interest oflow prices for the ma jority; their com pensation. as it may be affected by the operation of tariff laws, should at all times be scrupulously kept in view; and yet with slight ietiec- ton they will not overlook the fact, that they are consumers with the rest, that they, too, have their own wants and those of their fami lies to supply from their earnings, and that the price of the necessa- res of life, as well as the amount of their wages. will regulate the measure of their welfare and com fort, but the reduction of taxation demanded should he so measured as not to necessitate or justify ei- ther the loss of employment by the wOrkingman or the lessening of his wages, or the profits still re- maining to the manufacturer after a necessary readjustment should furnish no excuse for the sacrifice of the interests of his employees, either in their opportunity to work or in diminutiOn of their compen- sation. Nor can the worker in manufactures fail to under stand while higb tariff is claimed to be necessary to allow payment of remunerative wages, 1t certainly results in a very large increase in price of nearly all sorts of manu- tactures. which in almost countless forms he needs for the use of him. self and his family. He receives at the desk of hls employer his wages and perhaps, before he reaches his home is obliged, in a